Democrats Contemplate the House Without Moran

Del. Brian J. Moran (D-Alexandria) hasn't even announced that he is running for governor next year but two of his colleagues are eyeing his leadership position as Democratic caucus chairman, the second-highest ranking Democrat in the House.

Moran is expected to run for the Democratic nomination for governor against Sen. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath) but he does not have to resign from his House seat or his leadership post.

Amundson said she and Spruill were competitive in the past but now hope Moran will stay in his current position and work with them to try to win the House majority next year.

The House has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents.

"Our caucus understands that we need not to be involved in any type of internal fighting,'' House Minority Leader Ward L. Armstrong (D-Henry) said. "If we plan to take over next year...they'll be a bunch of jobs open up. Why do we want to fuss and fight among ourselves while we are in minority party?"

I could possibly support Creigh Deeds and I know plenty of people in the GOP who are talking about doing exactly that. A lot of people on the conservative side don't like being told that they have to unite behind "presumptive nominees" especially when those presumptives are seen by many citizens as having been tainted by close ties to the widely hated, Bush Neocons.

None of the people I know in the Republican Party would cross the street to help Moran; he is just too far out into Lefty la-la land.

Democrats have made some shrewd moves by running Mark Warner, Tim Kaine and Jim Webb. Going back to running escapees from the socialist asylum just doesn't make any sense.

The Donkeys can get a big crossover boost from Republicans if they run Creigh Deeds, just like they got for Jim Webb. With Moran, nobody from the conservative or libertarian wings of the GOP will consider crossing that huge wasteland.